First-order authentication system
First Claim
1. An apparatus for authentication of an article, comprising:
- a) a housing, said housing including a base portion and a shroud disposed to shield said article from ambient light, b) a receptor within said housing for receiving and supporting said article during authentication, and c) a removable reference-standard sample-specimen disposed for juxtaposition with said article for comparison during authentication.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system (10) is provided for performing first order authentication of articles marked with indicia (30) discernible in visible, ultraviolet, or infrared light or tagged with UV- or IR-sensitive chemicals. The first-order authentication system provides reliable visual authentication by providing for juxtaposition of the article-under-test (20) with a known reference-standard sample-specimen (90, 100, or 300), while the article-under-test (20) is illuminated by a suitable source (65 or 250) of radiation in the visible, ultraviolet, or infrared portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Thus, the system (10) facilitates comparison to differentiate a genuine article from a counterfeit article with first-order accuracy but at a substantially lower cost than that of automated authentication systems. Additionally, the system can be used in both portable and desk top embodiments. The system preferably has optional interchangeable holders (140 or 400) for various articles-under-test as well as an optional interchangeable holder (115) for various reference-standard sample-specimens. Some embodiments utilize structures incorporating split-image optics (200), superposed-image optics, and/or a blink-comparator.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. An apparatus for authentication of an article, comprising:
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a) a housing, said housing including a base portion and a shroud disposed to shield said article from ambient light, b) a receptor within said housing for receiving and supporting said article during authentication, and c) a removable reference-standard sample-specimen disposed for juxtaposition with said article for comparison during authentication. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. An apparatus for authentication of an article, said apparatus comprising:
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a) a housing, said housing including a base portion and a shroud disposed to shield said article from ambient light, b) a receptor within said housing for receiving and supporting said article during authentication, c) a source of non-visible radiation disposed under said shroud, and d) a removable reference-standard sample-specimen disposed for juxtaposition with said article for comparison during authentication, said reference-standard sample-specimen including one or more portions transparent to radiation in a predetermined part of the electromagnetic spectrum. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An authentication system for distinguishing a genuine article from a counterfeit article, said authentication system comprising a housing, said housing including a substantially opaque shroud disposed to shield said article from ambient light, at least one excitation source capable of emitting radiation in a predetermined portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, an article receptor disposed to hold an article for illumination by said at least one excitation source, and a reference-sample specimen disposed in juxtaposition with said article receptor,
said reference-sample specimen having one or more first portions transparent to radiation in a first predetermined part of the electromagnetic spectrum for alignment with fluorescent features known to be present in said genuine article, having one or more second portions translucent to radiation in a second predetermined part of the electromagnetic spectrum for alignment with watermark features known to be present in said genuine article, and having colored indicia disposed for alignment with said fluorescent features of said genuine article.
Specification